Let Go Of Your Past & Look Ahead
Zephaniah 1:4-6 (MSG) "I'll start with Judah and everybody who lives in Jerusalem. I'll sweep the place clean of every trace of the sex-and-religion Baal shrines and their priests. I'll get rid of the people who sneak up to their rooftops at night to worship the star gods and goddesses; Also those who continue to worship God but cover their bases by worshiping other king-gods as well. Not to mention those who've dumped God altogether, no longer giving Him a thought or offering a prayer."
Wow - the book of Zephaniah starts with some pretty harsh judgments on the people of Judah. I see this in our lives today too. We have fallen as a nation/country/world to these false gods and religions. We have turned away from worshiping God and God alone. The parts that jumped out at me, are things I used to do: sneak up to my rooftop to worship the stars, moon, and sun - false gods and goddesses. How sad that must have been for God! To watch His beloved daughter (me) stray off and do things that were against Him. THEN the next part: worshiping God but also worshiping other gods "just in case" covering all my bases. Ouch!! Yes, there was even a time that I dumped God altogether. Goodness!!
What I have learned is this: God loves me, chose me, and adopted me into His family as His beloved, precious, treasured daughter! According to scripture, "no one can snatch me out of His hand" - thank goodness!! Even though I jumped out of His hands on my own, wandered off into all sorts of trouble - He welcomed me back COMPLETELY!! He does and will do this with EVERYONE who asks Him to do so. EVERYONE! That is the amazing, awesome, and wonderful thing about God - He doesn't even come close to any comparison of anyone we know here on earth - NONE! He is way above anyone here. His forgiveness alone is complete, final, done. His mercy and faithfulness in watching over us, even in our own personal destruction - is way beyond anything I can even describe. THEN, His "justification" through Jesus dying on the cross in our place - well, just plain unimaginable! When we come to God and confess things we have done, asking for His forgiveness - guess what?!?! He DOES forgive us! Because Jesus died in our place, and we accepted His gift of salvation - when we bring things to God and confess them while giving them to Him and laying them at His feet - He counts it "justified" - just as if I never did it! What?!?! Yup - true! Clean slate. Totally forgiven and forgotten. I don't know about you, but that is soooooo freeing!!
If you have not already accepted His free gift of salvation (forgiveness of your sins, all the things you have done wrong or messed up in) do it now! It's easy! Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for you? He actually took your place? Then, do you believe that He was buried and rose again on the 3rd day like the bible tells us? Do you believe that you are a sinner by nature, and you can do nothing to save yourself? Are there things that have popped into your mind just now, that you believe are "wrong" or "against God"? Then tell Him that you know you are a sinner, and you cannot save yourself. No matter how hard you have tried, you need His help, love, guidance. Tell Him that you believe He is offering you a free gift, and that you accept it. That you want to have Him "take the wheel" in your life and guide you, give you strength and courage, and to follow Him. Tell Jesus thank you for dying for you and all of your sins. Ask Him to come live in your heart. Then say 'amen' in the name of the Father (God) the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
That's is!! You are now adopted into Gods family!! WE are now sisters and brothers in His family!! The thing about being adopted - we ARE chosen and WANTED!! He loves you dear one! He really does!! I do too - with the ability through Jesus to do so! I pray you have an uplifting, blessed, and productive day! May this be the "best day of you life"!! Now, go live life even better by following Jesus! :-)
(insert video of American Authors - "Best Day Of My Life")
Wow - the book of Zephaniah starts with some pretty harsh judgments on the people of Judah. I see this in our lives today too. We have fallen as a nation/country/world to these false gods and religions. We have turned away from worshiping God and God alone. The parts that jumped out at me, are things I used to do: sneak up to my rooftop to worship the stars, moon, and sun - false gods and goddesses. How sad that must have been for God! To watch His beloved daughter (me) stray off and do things that were against Him. THEN the next part: worshiping God but also worshiping other gods "just in case" covering all my bases. Ouch!! Yes, there was even a time that I dumped God altogether. Goodness!!
What I have learned is this: God loves me, chose me, and adopted me into His family as His beloved, precious, treasured daughter! According to scripture, "no one can snatch me out of His hand" - thank goodness!! Even though I jumped out of His hands on my own, wandered off into all sorts of trouble - He welcomed me back COMPLETELY!! He does and will do this with EVERYONE who asks Him to do so. EVERYONE! That is the amazing, awesome, and wonderful thing about God - He doesn't even come close to any comparison of anyone we know here on earth - NONE! He is way above anyone here. His forgiveness alone is complete, final, done. His mercy and faithfulness in watching over us, even in our own personal destruction - is way beyond anything I can even describe. THEN, His "justification" through Jesus dying on the cross in our place - well, just plain unimaginable! When we come to God and confess things we have done, asking for His forgiveness - guess what?!?! He DOES forgive us! Because Jesus died in our place, and we accepted His gift of salvation - when we bring things to God and confess them while giving them to Him and laying them at His feet - He counts it "justified" - just as if I never did it! What?!?! Yup - true! Clean slate. Totally forgiven and forgotten. I don't know about you, but that is soooooo freeing!!
If you have not already accepted His free gift of salvation (forgiveness of your sins, all the things you have done wrong or messed up in) do it now! It's easy! Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for you? He actually took your place? Then, do you believe that He was buried and rose again on the 3rd day like the bible tells us? Do you believe that you are a sinner by nature, and you can do nothing to save yourself? Are there things that have popped into your mind just now, that you believe are "wrong" or "against God"? Then tell Him that you know you are a sinner, and you cannot save yourself. No matter how hard you have tried, you need His help, love, guidance. Tell Him that you believe He is offering you a free gift, and that you accept it. That you want to have Him "take the wheel" in your life and guide you, give you strength and courage, and to follow Him. Tell Jesus thank you for dying for you and all of your sins. Ask Him to come live in your heart. Then say 'amen' in the name of the Father (God) the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
That's is!! You are now adopted into Gods family!! WE are now sisters and brothers in His family!! The thing about being adopted - we ARE chosen and WANTED!! He loves you dear one! He really does!! I do too - with the ability through Jesus to do so! I pray you have an uplifting, blessed, and productive day! May this be the "best day of you life"!! Now, go live life even better by following Jesus! :-)
(insert video of American Authors - "Best Day Of My Life")
Comments